The Imperial Family Of Japan. The Crown Prince and Princess

His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince (Naruhito) of Japan (Naruhito Kotashi), Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the elder son of the Emperor and heir apparent, was born on 23 February 1960 in Tokyo.

Originally titled Prince Hiro (Hiro-no-miya Naruhito Shinno), he attended the elementary and secondary departments of the Gakushuin. The prince graduated from the Department of History in the Faculty of Letters of Gakushuin University in March 1982.

In July 1983 he went to Great Britain, where he entered the Graduate School of Oxford University the following October, studying commodity transport on the River Thames in the latter half of the eighteenth century at Merton College. The prince is an honorary fellow of Balliol College, Oxford.

Prince Hiro became heir apparent to the throne upon the demise of Emperor Shôwa on 7 January 1989. He received his formal investiture as crown prince on 23 February 1990 at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo.

The Crown Prince married Miss Owada Masako on 9 June 1993. Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess (Masako), Order of the Sacred Treasure, was born in Tokyo on 9 December 1963, the daughter of Ambassador Owada Hishashi and Owada Yomiko. Owada Hishashi is a career diplomat. Owada Masako spent her childhood in New York City and Moscow, where her father held diplomatic posts.

The future Crown Princess attended Harvard University, where she concentrated in economics and graduated magna cum laude in June 1990. She later did post graduate work at Balliol College, Oxford University and worked as diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Crown Princess Masako is fluent in English, French and German. She became an honorary fellow of Balliol College, Oxford in July 1995. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have one child, Princess Toshi (Toshi no miya Aiko Naishinnô), born on 1 December 2001.

Posted August 11th, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off

The Imperial Family Of Japan. The Emperor and Empress

The Japanese Imperial family is the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world. The family’s lineage dates back to the sixth century BC, though the title of Tenno (emperor) or Sumera-Mikoto (heavenly sovereign) was assumed by rulers in the sixth or seventh century and has been used since. The family crest (above) is the kiku, or chrysanthemum.

The role of the Emperor (and occasionally the Empress - there have been 8 to date) has varied in importance. Considered a divine being until the end of World War II, the postwar Constitution made him the “Symbol of the state”. He plays a largely ceremonial part in the life of the nation.

Emperor Akihito (Heisei), who acceded the throne on January 7, 1989, upon the death of his father, the Emperor Hirohito (posthumously Emperor Showa), was born in Tokyo on December 23, 1933 (this date is now a national holiday). He graduated from Gakushuin University, the favoured institute for all royals, in 1956. In 1959, he married Shoda Michiko (1934~ ) a valedictorian graduate in English Literature of Tokyo’s University of the Sacred Heart (Seishin Jyoshi Daigaku).

They have two sons and a daughter whom they raised themselves, contrary to imperial tradition. The royal couple have traveled extensively around the world and have many interests, especially of sports. Their shared love of tennis is well known, since they first met on a tennis court. To watching the Empress in particular speak is to see the epitome of idealized Japanese womanhood. Her voice is incredibly soft, her face almost frozen in a semi-smile and her manner exudes poise and refinement. A far cry indeed from Japan’s aggresive ‘obaasans’ or Shibuya ‘gyals’!

Posted August 9th, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off

The Japanese Fighting Dog

Unbeknownst to many is the Tosa Inu, the star if an age-old Japanese tradition of dog fights. Dog-Fighting has been a popular sport in Japan since ancient times. Like Sumo wrestling, it was an elaborate, ceremonial affair, a sport conducted mainly by the Samurais, and the fighters, especially the winners, were feted and accorded much prestige.

The Tosa Inu is also known as the Japanese Mastiff or Japanese fighting dog is probably the only dog in the world which is still used quite legally to this day for dog fights. However, the Japanese developed a type of fight according to their mentality that bears no comparison with the notorious pit dog fights held illegally in other parts of the world. Considered a National Treasure in Japan, the sight of a Tosa Inu arrayed in full ceremonial fighting regalia and traditionally brought into the fighting arena by two handlers, makes an impressive and unforgettable impact.

The Tosa Inu is a massive, regal dog, standing well over 30 inches at the shoulders and weighing up to 150 pounds; the much larger Tosa Inus, weighing 200 pounds and more, are now extinct. Females are somewhat smaller than males, and they are never used in fighting.

Despite their notoriety as fighting animals, the Tosa Inus make incredibly affectionate and loving companions. They are devoted to their families and are very patient and tolerant with the children. Extremely intelligent, with excellent guarding instincts, they are dogs one can depend on. Apart from guarding, they have been successfully used as Search and Rescue Dogs and in Therapy Training.

Posted August 7th, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off

Matsuri

There are several kinds of festivals in Japan. Some are celebrated on fixed dates, and some are celebrated for several days. Japanese festivals are usually marked by very colorful displays of palaquins and floats, and the streets are expected to be lined with numerous food stalls.

These celebrations are usually held in honor of a kami, or a Shinto god. Shinto, or “the way of the gods” is Japan’s primary religion aside from Buddhism. Its festivals are celebrated, mostly, to show the kami this world. The kami are carried around in decorated palaquins by specially dressed people. Apart from processions like this, there are dramatic performances and a lot of feasting. Shinto festivals are also referred to as matsuri. Each matsuri is held for a particular shrine, and given the countless shrines in Japan, several celebrations are held throughout the year.

Among these numerous occasions to celebrate are the following well-known festivals:

SHOGATSU

Shogatsu, or New Year’s Day, is considered as the most important holiday in Japan. Shogatsu signifies a fresh start, which means leaving the previous year’s worries and problems behind. “Year-Forgetting parties” are commonly celebrated to highlight the occasion.

During shogatsu, it has been a tradition to visit the shrines to pay respects to the gods and to pray for good fortune for the new year.

SEIJIN NO HI

Seijin No Hi is also known as the Coming of Age festival. This is for people who are turning 20 years old for the year, which is their transition into adulthood. At the legal age of 20, Japanese people are allowed to vote, to drink, and to smoke, since they are now in the age of majority. During this festival, people being welcomed into adulthood wear formal dresses or kimonos.

SETSUBUN

The start of spring is signified by the Setsubun festival. At this time, people perform rituals which invite happiness and prosperity into their homes and temples, and drive out evil from them. Normally, roasted beans are thrown around the houses and shrines while driving out the devil and calling in happiness, after which, the number of beans which correspond to one’s age is picked up and eaten.

HINA MATSURI

Hina Matsuri is also known as the Doll Festival or Girls’ Festival. It has its roots from Chinese practices wherein bad luck is transferred to a doll and the doll is thrown into a river. In Japan, this is especially meaningful for those with daughters in their families. They wish their daughters good luck and long happy lives.

KODOMO NO HI

Komodo No Hi is much like the male counterpart of Hina Matsuri. This is also known as the Boys’ Festival. On this occasion, sons are wished good health, success, and strength. Samurai dolls are displayed for this.

TANABATA

On the 7th day of the 7th month, Tanabata or the “Star Festival” is celebrated in honor of the stars Vega and Altair, who were separated by the Milky Way, but were able to meet each other. A popular practice during this time is for one to write down wishes on a piece of paper and hang it on a bamboo tree, hoping that they will come true.

OBON

Obon commemorates all the deceased ancestors of the family. Once a year, these ancestors are believed to come back to this world to visit the relatives they have left behind.

SHICHIGOSAN

A festival is also held for the children – shichigosan, which means seven-five-three. Girls aged three and seven and boys aged three and five are wished well with good health and growth. These children also visit the Shrine wearing their kimonos, usually their first one.

[tags]japan,tokyo,matsuri,festivals,celebrations,traditions,culture[/tags]

Posted August 5th, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off

WA-GASHI: A Perfect Ending

Wa-gashi is the term for Japanese sweets. There are several kinds of wa-gashi to choose from, but these varieties have some common ingredients:

rice flour
azuki beans or anko (sweet red beans)
sugar
yams
vegetable gelatin

The beans, in paste form, usually make up the fillings for cakes and buns.

The sweetness of most kinds of wa-gashi compliments the bitter taste of green tea and are best served with it.

SOME KINDS OF WA-GASHI

ANMITSU

Anmitsu is a cold dessert made up of jelly cubes, azuki bean paste or anko, boiled beans, and fruit slices, served with a small pot of black syrup which is poured into the dessert before eating.

The jelly is called agar, and it is made from seaweed. The fruit slices may vary, depending on which fruits are available during the season, but slices of melon, pineapple, strawberries, and canned fruits are commonly used. The black syrup is called mitsu.

Anmitsu has some variations:

Mitsumame (Anmitsu without bean paste.)
Cream anmitsu (Anmitsu served with ice cream on top.)
Anmitsu served with nata de coco or shiratama dango (Dango is a sticky Japanese dumpling made from rice flour.)

ANPAN

Anpan is a sweet bun with red bean paste filling. Some types of anpan are:

Ogura (Anpan with red bean jam)
Sakura (Anpan with pickled cherry blossoms on tops)
Kuri (Anpan with chestnut jam, which was boiled with sugar and has been flavored with butter and liquor)
Shiroan (Anpan with a combination of white bean jam filling and white sesame)
Keshi (Anpan sprinkled with poppy seeds)
Uguisu (Anpan with a combination of green pea jam and sakadane dough)
Cheese Cream (Anpan with a combination of custard cream and cream cheese)

CASTELLA

Castella originated from Portugal and is known to the Japanese as Kasutera. It is a sponge cake
made of sugar, flour, eggs, and starch syrup, and can be molded into various shapes. It is quite popular as a street food in Japan, especially during festivals.

A variation of castella involves using powdered green tea instead of flour, brown sugar instead of white sugar, and honey instead of starch syrup.

Kasutera made into pancake-like patties and filled with sweet red bean paste is called Dorayaki, another Japanese sweet.

FRIED ICE CREAM

Fried ice cream is commonly found in Mexican food chains in the United States. A scoop of deep-frozen ice cream is dipped in egg batter, rolled in corn flakes or cookie crumbs, then briefly deep-fried. It is then served with cinnamon or sugar sprinkles.

In Japan, this dessert has become popular, except that the recipe is closer to home. Instead of dipping the ice cream in egg and cereal or crumbs, it is dipped in tempura batter – the batter being made up of cold water, flour, and egg yolks.

GREEN TEA ICE CREAM

Green tea iced cream is also called matcha (or maccha) ice cream in Japanese. Matcha refers to a specific type of green tea used in Japanese tea ceremony. This green-colored ice cream is very popular in Japan. Sometimes it is served sandwiched between two crisp wafers.

HIGASHI

Higashi is a mixture of glutinous rice flour and wasambonto. Wasambonto is one of the oldest domestic hand-refined sugar. The mixture is pressed into molds of various shapes to form dry sweets. Sometimes, sugar and starch are combined and used instead of wasambonto.

KAKIGORI

Kakigori is shaved ice poured with flavored syrup. There are several flavors with different colors to choose from. Strawberry, green tea, and melon are among the popular ones. Kakigori poured with two or more flavors of different colors is called rainbow. Condensed milk may be used to sweeten kakigori.

MANJU

Manju is a steamed bun filled with bean paste. The bun is made up of joyo (yam) dough.

MELONPAN

Melonpan is a soft, round, sweet bread. It is also called melon buns, and it resembles a melon, although the flavor is usually not melon. Sometimes though, melon essence is used to enhance the bread’s aroma.

MONAKA

Monaka is made up of two pieces of thin wafers with azuki bean filling in between. The wafers are made from sticky rice, and may be shaped like cherry blossoms or chrysanthemums.

TAIYAKI

Taiyaki is cake filled with azuki bean paste, custard, or any other filling, fried, and molded into the shape of a fish.

YOKAN
Yokan is a sweet jelly made up of azuki bean paste, sugar, and kanten. Kanten is gelatin made from sun-dried seaweed. it is high in fiber.

Most of these kinds of wa-gashi have much lower calories compared to yo-gashi (Western-style sweets) since they rarely use milk and butter. They have lower fat content and their common ingredients – the beans, gelatin, and yams – are rich in fiber and vegetable protein, so they are generally much healthier than a typical yo-gashi. Served with green tea, wa-gashi is a perfect ending to a nice meal.

[tags]japan,tokyo,wagashi,dining,food,dessert,sweets,culture[/tags]

Posted August 3rd, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off

HARAJUKU – World of Fashion

Harajuku is the ultimate shopping and fashion district in Tokyo, where Japan’s most outrageous outfits and creative clothing combinations can be seen. Young people shop in its seemingly perpetual line of stores, or just hang out dressed up in their favorite anime costumes or made up like famous rock stars. On Sundays, Harajuku is especially teeming with these fashion-oriented teens, who gather in the area for a costume play, or “cosplay”.

One can get there by foot or by train. By foot, it is only 15 minutes away from Shibuya in the west of Tokyo. To get there by train, there are the Harajuku and Meiji Jingumae Stations which are adjacent to each other.

The main street in Harajuku is Takeshita Street, or Takeshita Dori. Its stores target preteens and teenagers who are out to purchase Japan’s latest and exotic trends. Most of the stores here are fairly priced for the younger crowd. Daiso Harajuku is located along this street, and sells all sorts of items - from clothes to kitchen items to stationery to makeup – at 105 yen each (100 yen plus 5 percent consumption tax). There are also shops owned by famous celebrities, whose goods for sale are frantically purchased by teens who adore them.

Omotesando is another major shopping strip, but its stores sell a little more expensive items since their merchandise also target adults than just teens. Louis Vitton opened its largest store along this avenue in 2002. Esquisse Omotesando sells branded items like Gucci, Zara, and Chanel. Kiddy Land, a very popular toy store, is situated in this area as well. Its merchandise includes branded toys such as Hello Kitty and Disney characters. Cozy and upscale coffee shops also line the streets, apart from the boutiques, for those who wish to relax a bit in the middle of shopping.

Other well-known and frequently visited shopping stop-overs are LaForet Harajuku, Oriental Bazaar, and Snoopy Town. LaForet Harajuku caters mostly to young females who are seeking the latest and hottest trends, with its numerous boutiques and unending choices of shoes, clothing, makeup, and accessories. The Oriental Bazaar is for travelers and foreigners who wish to purchase souvenirs and other Japanese collectibles – kimonos, decorative dolls, tea sets, sake sets, among other things. Snoopy Town in Takeshita Dori sells a variety of Snoopy toys and other Snoopy-branded items.

The shop-til-you-drop mode elicited by several boutiques given all those funky and trendy items is further elicited by the youngsters who are short of modeling all possible outfit combinations right out of the stores’ shelves. These teens, when not shopping, just sit around and have their pictures taken or their made-up selves viewed and adored.

Visiting Harajuku is just like being temporarily transported right in the middle of a fantasy world – where various anime characters, punk rock stars, life-size gothic dolls, and gaming heroes come to life and walk amongst ordinary, everyday folk. What’s more, one can actually purchase any of these new looks in one go. It is also always worth going back to the stores because the styles and new items just keep coming. One will always find different batches of the younger crown exhibiting the latest fashion and the most popular anime hero or punk rocker. In Harajuku, there is always a reason to shop and get all dressed up.

[tags]harajuku,shopping,japan,tokyo,fashion,clothes,trends,cosplay[/tags]

Posted August 1st, 2006 by geisha | Comments Off